HEPATIC TRANSDIFFERENTIATION IN THE PANCREAS

The differentiated state of specialized cells appears to be dependent on interactions between the extracellular microenvironment, cytoplasmi c signals and DNA. Perturbations in these interactions lead to phenoty pic alterations of the cell-referred to as transdifferentiation. Coppe r deficiency in rats leads to global acinar cell loss due to apoptosis possibly leading to perturbations in cell-cell interactions and the m icroenvironment. Acinar cell loss is associated with the proliferation of ductular epithelial and oval cells. Massive depletion of the ac na r cell Pool creates severe expansion pressure on oval and ductular cel ls to fill the vacuity. This probably causes a change in the commitmen t of these cells resulting in transdifferentiation into hepatocytes. P ancreatic hepatocytes exhibit all the morphological and functional pro perties of fiver parenchymal cells.